Recently, the whole world is quivering with a fear of new epidemics. However, about thirty years ago, there was the “Korean Hemorrhagic Fever(KHF)” that caused more serious damages than the present flu. CBT met the microbiologist Lee Ho-wang, who found the Hantaan virus which causes KHF, developed the vaccine, and saved many people. Let’s listen to his story about his career and his philosophy of life. -Ed.
 
 
Choice on the crossroads
Dr. Lee Ho-wang thought about being a physician when he entered medical college. However, the time he studied was just after the Korean War. In postwar Korea, epidemics were prevalent. Therefore, Dr.Lee thought he had to cure infectious cases to treat internal diseases. This thought made him study about microbes which cause epidemics. However, while he studied microbiology in America, this became his eternal way. He said that this was his first crossroad in life. “If you keep going on your way, a crossroad in your life that will decide your destiny will appear. The first thing that came to me was microbiology. Things that happen after that time are different from former things.” In every moment, we are at a crossroad. On this crossroad, which road you choose is important, but the attitude of trying whatever you do is more important. He said, “Do your best and strive more than other people, then the way will be opened.” This was the secret of his success.
 
Find the job which fits your DNA
Many students have doubts about the way they are going in the job market. Dr. Lee said it is because they can’t find a job that fits their DNA. He said, “Finding the job that you like to do and having no regrets is more important. I think that I have the DNA suitable for scientists. I’m not bored with the experiments that I do, and I also can get funding for research.” Additionally, he said that it is important that students have an ability to judge whether they have an aptitude for their present way or not. “If you have the aptitude for what you do, the chance for success is high. After that, all you have to do is just endeavor steadily.”
 
There are no national boundaries for science, but there is a mother country for scientists
To Dr. Lee, who achieved good results in finding Hantaviruses, the United States proposed twice for him to come to the U.S. However, Dr. Lee declined both  proposals then and there. It was because of his own faith. “I could study in America thanks to Korea’s help. Therefore, I thought I had responsibilities for serving in Korea after I finished studying. I was born in Korea, and I defended  Korea by fighting in the Korean War. Korea is my country, and I have work to do in Korea. It was to cure Koreans by developing the vaccines against the epidemics. I’m very patriotic. I think that students have to be patriotic. Isn’t it natural that Koreans work in Korea and live for Korea?”
 
Students, be ambitious!
Sometimes, there are people who dream a big dream which seems impossible. Dr. Lee said that setting a goal and having passion are very good things. He said, “Once you set a goal, you have to reach that goal. On the way to the goal, if it doesn’t fit you, you have to know that you can change the goal. If you change the goal, you should keep challenging it in spite of failure.” He also had passion, and finally he achieved his goal. It was that he found the Hantanvirus and named it in Korean after a place in Korea. He is very proud of it. “Even after I die, the Hantaviruses will remain eternally in textbooks. This is a pride and honor of Korean scientists.” Like the title of his writing, “The Miracle of Hantaan River,” he made a miracle during a hard time in Korea. If we have passion and make efforts like him, other miracles will be accomplished by us.